"It takes 20 years to build a
reputation and five minutes to ruin it...." Warren Edward Buffett, one of the
most inspiring personalities of this century, an American business
magnate-cum-philanthropist, who has $62 billion net share holdings-almost half
of GDP of Pakistan-said this in a contextual framework and perhaps was oblivious
of his words befitting feeble Indo-Pak relationship. That even though never
tasted the time of sustainable stability if otherwise treaded on the road of
reconciliation is either buffeted or hamstrung at the behest of stake. Causes of
disagreement are many, emanating easily out of conspiracies that need not to be
directly executed to engender bilateral animosity, as indirect attempt will
remain as popular in fanning disputes between Pakistan and India. It seems
Pakistan and India are all-time eager to draw draggers on each other and have
armed spin-doctors to bombard volley of words against each other. Maybe this
historical trend also could not bring South and North Koreas close after
division of peninsula eight and half month following independence of Pakistan
and India from British rule.

The biggest victim of Indo-Pak weakest
link is certainly trade and industries of both the countries, which could
enhance bilateral trade substantially by strengthening cooperation in different
fields to benefit people of dual nations. Business communities have identified
several areas of cooperation where both nations can complement each other.
Gemstones, agriculture goods, textile, leather, iron, steel, energy, and tea are
diagnosed main products bilateral trade can benefit from. An editorial of an
Indian newspaper assuredly said India could become a potential market of some
Pakistan's agriculture products. There are undesirable tariff and non-tariff
barriers on both sides removal of which will be advantageous for enhancement of
bilateral trade volume.

It is an irony that simmering tensions
evoke imposition or re-imposition of tariffs on products traded between India
and Pakistan. Engrained deep-rooted politics in economies of India and Pakistan
spur strict stances by both the countries on commerce fronts in case of internal
disturbances. Therefore, they resort to tariff and non-tariff barriers on
products reciprocally after any untoward and unpleasant situation. These
emotionally charged actions promote bilateral trade through other channels,
terribly unraveling tax revenue losses. For example, negative listed Indian
products land in Pakistan via Dubai or smuggling channelized them in Pakistani
markets. Sustainable development policy institute estimated informal trade at
around $500 million, primarily import from India via Dubai to Pakistan. While
that is an outdated estimate, analyses by the World Bank have been mentioning
greater potential for India-Pak trade especially in light manufactured products.

At present, the extent of victimization
befalls heavily on Pakistan than India that has as always enjoyed trade surplus
in bilateral trade with Pakistan. Things could have been better for Pakistan too
had docility of these nations not dragged them at loggerheads repeatedly by a
collusive stir. Belligerence of warmongers either side of the border of India
and Pakistan crumble every attempt of rapprochement, surviving on the perennial
issue of Kashmir that has been a real cause of disagreement and caused three
wars fought over it, one that culminated in severance of Pakistan's east and
west parts. When the main issue does not create problem, certain caustic acts
compel winding of struggles towards building of amicable atmosphere.

Recent two bouts of spurt to
disintegration were attacks on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore and Mumbai
pogrom just a couple of months back. Trade talks between India and Pakistan had
postponed to indefinite period following terroristic attacks in financial hub of
India in November last year. A couple of months back to this attack, an
atmosphere of trusts had been gathering up. Bilateral social parleys, exchange
of expertise and talents in showbiz industry, inter-governmental consent to
softening of travel visa criteria were signaling good signs about possible
transformation to friendly neighbors from warring nations.

In a meeting in September-end in New
York, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had agreed to
all permissible items of trade, according to a report by South Asian News
Agency. They had agreed to cement commerce and bilateral ties and open trade
across four points: Wagah-Attari, Khokhrapar-Munabao, cross LoC trade
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot. In addition, SECP and Security and
Exchange Board of India had signed a MoU to help and cooperate for ensuring
bilateral participation in capital markets of Pakistan and India. To the dismay
of pro-peace, sane people of both the countries, however, Mumbai attack rolled
back dream of good relation to a distanced reality. India openly pinned
responsibility of the attack on Pakistan that later consented with the idea of
non-state actors being behind the attack. Comments of intellects at that time
had been sending calls to keep rationality alive. Notably, Pakistan Ambassador
to US, Hussain Haqqani told CNN, "It is important to understand that this is an
opportunity for India and Pakistan to work together". Was that not a
comprehensible insinuation to circumvent becoming targets of conspiracy? Maybe
not, as next incident-that took five lives during an ambush on visiting Sri
Lankan cricket team in Lahore in Shakespearean dreaded March-after two month of
Mumbai attack dimmed unseen benefit that appeared at the prospect of Pakistan's
satisfactory follow-up of the attack. This time wave of paranoia engulfed the
other side. Fingers were pointed at India officially and unofficially. In
opinion of a Karachi-based industrialist "this attack was a last nail" in the
coffin.

Overcoming militancy has become a
national issue and like other countries Pakistan is also threatened with the
increasing activities of religious bigots, mercenaries, and
underserved-tuned-militants. There is an urgent need that South Asian countries,
in general, and Pakistan and India, in particular, ponder over positively the
causes and elimination tactics of terrorism, which is an obstacle in the way of
economic well being of their people. Being bull eye to terroristic forays, now
Pakistan and India should wriggle out of historical differences and not let
bilateral economic relation fall prey to conspiracy theories. Track-II diplomacy
may be relevant in this regard. A kick to SAARC to awaken it from the deep
slumber is also relevant in designing regional strategies to cope up with the
situation.